Lozowski puts the boot into Sharks

GEORGE Ford handed England boss Steve Borthwick an autumn injury scare pulling up after just five minutes as Saracens handed Sale a bonus point beating.

- ADAM HATHAWAY

But Mark McCall, the Saracens director of rugby, dampened down fears about Maro Itoje, who was withdrawn a minute after half-time.

Ford, who winced and clutched his thigh after taking a 50m penalty near the beginning of the game, was treated on the floor and limped off. He spent the rest of the game on the sidelines with ice on his leg and will be sent for a scan tomorrow.

Itoje lasted just a minute of the second half but McCall was quick to say he would be fit for the autumn which England kick off on November 2 against New Zealand.

McCall said: “Maro has got a bang on a grumbly knee and we took him off real quick just to preserve that. He will be fine, but whether he plays next week I am not sure.”